High production slicing machine



July 13, 1965 R A. LUNDELL HIGH PRODUCTION SLIGING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ROBERT LUNDELL BY Cdggml 23 510;

A TTOR NEY July 13, 1965 Filed June 18, 1962 R. A. LUNDELL 3,194,289

HIGH PRODUCTION SLICING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ROBERT A. LUNDELL ATTORNEY July 13, 1965 R. A. LU NDELL HIGH PRODUCTION SLICING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1962 'IIIIIIIIIIIIII'I I ia- WIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

noasnr A. LUNDELL CLQE AL 2 ATTORNEY July 13, 1965 R. A. LUNDELL HIGH PRODUCTION SLICING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 18, 1962 INVENTOR. ROBERT A. LUNDELL BY iana.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,194,289 PIGH PRODUCTIQN SLICKJNG MACHINE Robert A. Lundeil, 200 Byrarn Shore Road, Byram, Conn. Fiied June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,301 12 Ciairns. (61. 146105) This invention relates to a high production slicing machine not only for food products but for other materials capable of being cut into slices.

Heretofore, machines for slicing and stacking food products in prepackaging operations for large scale users such as packaging houses and supermarkets were extremely complex, usually requiring a movable structure for impaling the cut slices and delivering the same to a receiving tray by means of a dropping mechanism. These machines were difficult to keep clean and maintain and are relatively slow in the slicing operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a high production slicing machine which is of relatively simple construction and is easy to clean, maintain and service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a high production slicing machine which can be easily transported in order to satisfy housekeeping requirements of the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single motor for moving or rotating both the product delivering device and the product receiving device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a turret type slicing machine that requires a minimum of space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an oscillating product delivering device operating on relatively short strokes and a product receiving tray which accommodates a multiplicity of piles of stacked products. The structure is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and may be operated manually thereby providing a slicing and stacking machine that is priced within the reach of small retail shops.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a high production slicing machine for large scale operations which is reliably effective for the purpose intended.

The above and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation, partly cutaway, and partly in section of the high production slicing machine embodying the principles of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of construction taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the detail illustrated in FIG.- 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the present slicing machine with certain parts removed for purposes of clarity, and illustrating the adjustable gauge plate.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the gauge plate and its adjusting means taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4.

shownin FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the circular knife cutting member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGS. l4, the present invention relating to a high production slicing machine comprises a base member 19 provided with a roller or caster 11. Iournalled in Patented July 13, 1965 "ice approximately the center of the base member 10 is a fixed sleeve 12. Fitted over the fixed sleeve 12 is a rotatable and telescoping sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is secured at its lower end to cross bar to. The latter is moved in vertical slot 15 by a mechanism hereinafter more particularly described.

Secured to the rotatable and vertically movable sleeve 14 are arms 18, also rotatable, and forming receiving trays 26 for receiving and carrying the cut slices thereon.

A moto 22 through shaft 23 rotates a preferably circular knife cutting member 24. The rotatable knife cutting member 24 is provided with a knife guard or cover 25 to provide protection to the user of this device. However, it is not intended to be restricted to a circular knife since other types of cutting knives, such as reciprocating or band-type may be used satisfactorily within the scope of the present invention. The motor 22 also rotates a stub shaft 49 within fixed standard 26 through shaft 27, pulley 28, belt 36, pulley 32, shaft 33 and spur gears 34 and 36 respectively. Spur gear 36 is located within pillow block bearing 38 and is directly connected to stub shaft 40 of the standard 26. The rotatable stub shaft 40 is provided with a cap 42 at the top end thereof, the cap 42 having supporting struts 4-4 and 46 with the free end thereof being attached to product delivery chutes bearing the reference numeral 48. One of the product delivery chutes 48 is illustrated with a product P therein. It should be apparent that the cap 42 with supporting struts 44 and 46 as well as delivery chutes may be replaced as a unit with chutes of different configurations, for example, square or triangular shapes.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a cam 50 is secured to the stationary standard 26. Each product delivery chute 48 is provided with a product holding or restricting means 52 which is connected at 54 to the chute 48. Holding means 52 is adapted to swing radially in the interior of the chute 43 to adjust the opening at the bottom of the chute thereby selectively permitting the product therein to be sliced to be lowered on an adjustable gauge plate 16M- for the slicing operation. The holding means 52 is controlled by telescoping sections 58 and 60 in which the section 643 is urged by compression spring 62 into engagement with the cam 59. Section 58 is connected to pivot point 64 on the holding means 52 and is provided with a compression spring 65 which is weaker than spring 62. It should be apparent that the configuration of the cam 50 shown in FIG. 6a functions to move the holding means 52 toward the chute wall 48 when the section 60 drops into the recessed area 51 of the cam 50.

Referring more particularly to the mechanism disclosed in the base 10 of FIG. 1 and in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, a gear 66 which has a considerable length is mounted on the end of rotatable shaft 33. Gear 66 meshes with and drives gear 68 of a much smaller length. Gear 68 is fixed to the rotatable and vertically movable sleeve 14. As seen in FIG. 1, the bottom of sleeve 14 is provided with a cam 70 of considerable vertical height. Mounted on the base member 10 are two supporting posts '72 having bearing members '74. Rod 76 is adapted for sliding movement in the bearing members 74. The intermediate portion of the rod 76 is threaded at 78 into internally threaded element 80 in the movable pawl support 82. The movable pawl support 82 is provided with a pawl 84 that is keyed in slot 86. The pawl support 82 is resiliently connected to supporting post 72 by means of a spring 88. Also secured to supporting post 72 is a threaded boss 96 having an adjustable stop screw 92 threaded therein. The pawl 84 is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 96 having a worm 94 thereon which engages worm wheel 98. As seen in FIG. 2 the worm wheel 98 is connected through a threaded shaft 100 to rotatable and internally threaded cross bar 16. The shaft product delivery chute 43.

100 is also held in bearing 102. Thus, the cam face'ofcam 70 through slidable shaft 76, pawl support 82 and pawl 84 engaged in one of the teeth of the ratchet Wheel 96 causes the latter to rotate in predetermined increments depending upon the setting of theadjusting knob 77} Whenthe' ratchet wheel96 rotates, motion is transmitted to worm Wheel 98, shaft 1% and cross bar 16 thereby causing the movable sleeve 14 to rotate in a vertical plane. When the lower. elevations of the cam 70 appear, then the slidable shaft '76 slides inwardly to a position wherein the free end thereof abuts the lower elevations of the cam, the shaft return being provided by spring 88 which.

simultaneously pulls: the pawl 34 over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 96. It should also be noted that a handle H connected to the ratchet wheel 96 may be employed to returnthe arms 18 to their original elevated position 'if it is desired to repeat the slicing and stacking procedure,

livering device and saidproductrec'eiving element in sub; stantially horizontal, parallel planes and in onedire'ction, means additionally moving said product receiving device: in increments in a-plane substantially transverse to the -f path of movement of said product delivering device, and

a cutting member interposed between said product delivering device and'said productreceiving element' whereby'the product is intermittently moved into the area of Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein a gauge plate 164; is carried by asupport 106.

The support: is provided with a pair of cars 1% which surround the interfitting lateral projections on the threaded rack 112. Therack 112.is secured by means of bolts 114 to the standard 26; An adjustable, seltj locking screw 116 engages the teeth of the rack 112; A knob 118 is provided at the top end of the screw116 to of the product to be cut.

crer'nents a distance corresponding to the thickness 0 r the individual slices of the product.

FIGS. 7 and 8 refer'to an alternative embodiment of V the principles embodied in my invention. In this con-' nection, a 'center hollow post 120 ternal rotating shaft 122.'.

Shaft 122. is supported at its top end in bearings 124.

is provided with a inand is provided with a horizontal plate having, an

oft-center, upstanding pin128. A stationary arm v is fixed at one end to the exterior of the hollow center post 120. At the other end of stationary arm 1% an oscillating arm 132 is pivoted atpivot point 134. Oscillating arm 132is provided with an elongated slot 135 through which upstanding pin 128 on the'plate 1% projects. At the free end :of oscillating arm 132 is the. Itshould be noted that the rotation of plate 12.6.with pin 128 in .slot 135 causes os-. cillation of arm 132 in relatively short strokes that sweep across the rotating knife cutting member i thus resulting j in high production slicing in which the slices are dropped in spaced piles on rotating receiving :trays 2th of the arms 18.

FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged sectional view of the rotating knife 24 having a protective cover 25. It should center line of the blade.

structions necessitated by the rather massive hub unit.

While I haveshown and described the preferred em.-

bodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the,

latter maybe embodied otherwise thanas herein specifically illustrated or describedandthat in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construc tionand in'the arrangement of parts may be made with-- said cutting member and released on said gaugeplate forcutting engagement with said. cutting member to succes sively slice a predetermined-thickness of'said producn'said slices dropping on said continuously moving productreceiving element.

2. A .high production slicing machine, comprising a produce delivering. device being an open-ended. tube provided withrmeans therein forreleasablyv holding said product, a gauge plate for'regulatingfthe thickness of theslice to be cut, a product receiving-element spaced there'- from, means rotating said product delivering. device: and

said product, receiving element infsubstantially parallel; planes, and in one directionmeans; additionally moving; 1

said product'receiving device in increments in a-plane substantially transverse to the path of movement of said I i 7 product delivering device, and a cutting member inter-q posed between said'gproducth delivering device andsaid: product receiving element whereby. the product. is "inter;

mittently moved jintothe area of said cutting member and releasedon said'gauge plate tor'cutt'ing eng'agementlwith said cutting'member to successivelyisii ce a predetermined thicknessof said product, said slices dropping on said continuously moving product receiving element and form I ing spaced piles thereon.

31 A high production slicing .machine comprising a turretprovided with a plurality of product holders, a gauge plate for regulatingthe-thickness oftheslice. to be cut,

a table spaced from-said holders, means for rotating said 1 turret and said table in. substantially.horizontal;parallel:

planes, said table adapted to receivespaoed, slices of said p 1 product, and continuously moving in one direction, means 1 for lowering said table tlil; increments ;in;.'a,planje .substantialiy transverse to the ,path of jmovement of said turret, and a cutting member interposed between said turret and table whereby [the productris intermittently movedinto the area of saidcuttingmernber and released I on said gauge .pljate iorfcu tting: engagement with said euttingfmember' to successively slicefga predetermined plate for'regulating thelthicknes s of the sliceitor ber cut, p a productreceiving element spaced thereirornjand having alcam thcreongmeans"moving'said product delivering; device and said product receiving elementfinsubstantially I parallel planes,-said table .adapted'to receive s pacedslices'.'

of said product and continuouslyggm'oving in oneldi'rection,

- a screw member insaidbase', means operatedby thecarn on said productreceiving element for operating-saids'crew member at predetermined locations of; said product, delivery'device' whereby saidproduct receiving device is lowered in increments in *a plane substantially transverse to thepath of movement of said product, deliveringdevice, and a cutting 5 member .interposedbetween: said, product delivering device andsaid -P oduct receivingelea ment whereby the productv is intermittently moved'into the areaof said cutting rnemberand released on'said V gauge plate :for cutting engagement withgsaid f cutting out departing from the underlying idea or principle of the invention within thescope of the appended claims. I

I What I claim is: I 1.,A high production slicing machine comprisinga thickness ofsaid product, said rslices'droppingon said continuously. moving table; 1

' Ahigh production slicing machine providedwith'a base and comprising a product delivering device,;a gauge member; to successively. slice a predetermined 1 thickness of said product, saidslices dropping continuously on said;

and forming ,s'paced "piles product receiving "1 element thereon.

being displaced laterally and below said product delivering device, means moving said product delivering device and said table continuously in the same direction and in substantially parallel planes, means for lowering said table in increments in a plane substantially transverse to the path of movement of said product delivering device, and a cutting member interposed between said product delivering device and said table whereby the product is intermittently moved adjacent to said cutting member and released on said gauge plate for cutting engagement with said cutting member to successively slice a predetermined thickness of said product, said slices dropping on said continuously movable table.

6. A high production slicing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base is provided with rolling means. 7. A high production slicing machine as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a cam mounted on said turret,

a release device in said holder, means connecting said release device to said cam whereby upon rotation of said turret to a predetermined position said cam operates said release device to thereby release said product therefrom.

8. A high production slicing machine comprising a rotating turret-like product delivering device adapted to hold the product vertically, a gauge plate for regulating the thickness of the slice to be cut, a product receiving element, a motor means for rotating said product delivery device and product receiving device continuously in the same direction, a rotating frame member supporting said product receiving element, means for lowering said frame member in increments upon each revolution of said product delivering device, and a cutting member interposed between said product delivering device and said product receiving element whereby the product is intermittently moved into the area of said cutting member and released on said gauge plate for cutting engagement with said cutting member to successively slice a predetermined thickness of said product, said slices dropping on said continuously movable product receiving element.

9. A high production slicing machine comprising an elongated element having slot therein, a product delivery chute located on said element at the free end thereof, an eccentric having a stud thereon, said eccentric adapted to be rotated with said stud in said slot thereby causing said product delivery chute to oscillate in relatively short strokes, a gauge plate for regulating the thickness of the slice to be cut, a product receiving element spaced below said product delivering device and rotating continuously, means moving said rotating product receiving device downwardly in increments in a plane substantially transverse to the path of movement of said product delivery chute, and a movable cutting member located above said product receiving element, said product delivery chute being intermittently swung into the area of said cutting member and the product therein released on said gauge plate for cutting engagement with said cutting member to successively slice a predetermined thickness of said product, said slices dropping on said rotating product receiving element, and means causing the latter to move downwardly in increments upon receiving each slice of the product.

iii. A high production slicing machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means operated by the cam on the product receiving element is a shiftable sliding rod, a pawl secured to said sliding rod and a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said screw member whereby said cam causes shifting of said sliding rod thereby resulting in the lowering of said product receiving device in increments.

iii. A high production slicing machine as set forth in claim It) further providing adjusting means for adjusting the length of shift of said sliding rod to thereby control the size of the increments in the lowering of the product receiving device.

12. A high production slicing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutting member is a rotating blade with a central hub portion, said product being sliced by the periphery of said rotating blade beyond said central hub portion.

Reierences @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,663,543 3/28 Buck 146105 1,676,241 7/28 Ayars 146-167 2,085,484 6/37 Van Lammeren l46l05 FOREIGN PATENTS 145,708 11/03 Germany.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HIGH PRODUCTION SLICING MACHING COMPRISING A PRODUCT DELIVERING DEVICE, A GAUGE PLATE FOR REGULATING THE THICKNESS OF THE SLICE TO BE CUT, A PRODUCT RECEIVING ELEMENT SPACED THEREFROM, MEANS ROTATING SAID PRODUCT DELIVERING DEVICE AND SAID PRODUCT RECEIVING ELEMENT IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL, PARALLEL PLANES AND IN ONE DIRECTION, MEANS ADDITIONALLY MOVING SAID PRODUCT RECEIVING DEVICE IN INCREMENTS IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PRODUCT DELIVERING DEVICE, AND A CUTTING MEMBER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PRODUCT DELIVERING DEVICE AND SAID PRODUCT RECEIVING ELEMENT WHEREBY THE PRODUCT IS INTERMITTENTLY MOVED INTO THE AREA OF SAID CUTTING MEMBER AND RELEASED ONSAID GAUGE PLATE FOR CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CUTTING MEMBER TO SUCCESSIVELY SLICE A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS OF SAID PRODUCT, SAID SLICES DROPPING ON SAID CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PRODUCT RECEIVING ELEMENT. 